#hfg

Show Me the Money X Episode 6 - Team Selection

Producer performances have finished, and the competition continues! Which producer team will each rapper choose to join?

Are you hoping for anyone specific to join your team?

Saf: Not really, I'm just excited to finally start working some music with these guys.

Ash Island: She is absolutely lying. She's waited five episodes for Gunho to join our team.

Saf: (to Ash) You really think he'll choose us?

Ash Island: He'd be an idiot not to. You've spent all this time chasing him.

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All the producers are placed into a large room with four couches in a line. These couches also align with four doors, each one with a producer team's name written above it.

The producers take their seats and await further instruction. Contestants will be called one at a time, in order of increasing fight money. If the producer team wants to recruit this rapper, they'll stand in front of the door.

On the other side, the contestant will also choose which producer team to go to. If both the producer team and the contestant choose each other, the match is successful.

Contestants that fail to make a match will be put into "Reserve" status. Reserves can look for another match once all rappers have gone through the selection process.

Ultimately, each producer team will have four rappers on their team. If a producer continues to match after filling their roster, they must select a rapper to send into Reserve.

Reserves only have one chance at a re-match. If they fail again, they will be eliminated. Once all Reserves are eliminated, or all producer teams declare their door closed, Team Selection will complete.

-----

"This sounds complicated," Saf says to Ash on their two-person couch.

"Not really," Ash replies. "Stand if you like them, sit if you don't. That's all it is."

"Well what if I like them, but they don't like me?" she worries. "How will I live with the shame?"

"Oh, please," Ash says, brushing off her concern. "I've been rejected plenty of times, you'll be fine."

At that last statement, Saf furrows her eyebrows. "What girl in her right mind would reject you?" She looks as if she genuinely could not fathom anyone not wanting him.

But this is neither the time nor the place to be dissecting this.

"You'd be surprised," he says.

And the show goes on, with rapper after rapper being called up to the doors.

"Our next contestant will be Lee Gunho."

Saf immediately turns to Ash. "Are you gonna get up there?"

Ash resists the part of him that wants to give in to her every request. "No, he's your recruit. You should be the one to stand in front of him," he tells her instead.

"But-"

"We all know we're gonna argue," Ash interrupts, "but we all know I'm gonna win. So just go up, because I know you're not gonna risk losing this kid now."

Rendered speechless, Saf begrudgingly makes her way to the door. Sending Ash her best stink face she says, "I hope you realize you'll be stuck piecing my broken heart back together if Gunho doesn't choose us."

"I'm literally not worried about that at all," Ash deadpans. He wouldn't have sent her up alone if there were any chance Gunho wouldn't be on the other side.

-----

"The team Lee Gunho has selected is...!"

You beam from ear to ear as you see Gunho on the other side as your door slides open.

You rush over and give him a hug as you say, "Welcome to the team! We're so excited to have you on board."

Ash has come up behind you and shakes Gunho's hand once you've let him go. "Thanks for choosing us, man. Looking forward to working with you."

The two of you return to your seats, Ash with a smug look on his face.

"Stop looking like that," you say to him.

Ash widens his eyes innocently. "What? This is just my face."

"Well I don't like it, so put it away," you respond.

“I'll be sure to cover up with a mask next time," Ash says drily.

"But then what else would the viewers look forward to seeing each week?"

-----

"Is it just me or is she flirting with him?"

"No, she's definitely flirting. And he is definitely fumbling."

"For real, he had a perfect opportunity right there."

"Guys," Ash starts, "even if you tune into the show every week, do you really have to watch it in my studio?"

"Of course we do!" Hash answers back.

Leella chimes in, "We're just showing you our support in this new endeavor."

Ash rolls his eyes. "Q forced me to do this, don't act like this show is my current passion project."

Changmo grins. "Oh we weren't talking about the show."

-----

"Can you relax?"

"I didn't even say anything!" you refute.

You and Ash are waiting for everyone else to arrive for your first team meeting. At the end of filming you guys ended up with Gunho, Caylo, and two other rappers named Hyejin and Del on your team.

Ash answers back, "Didn't have to. Your thoughts are loud enough.

"You're worried they'll hate us, that I'll scare them off, they'll hate our songs, and or that they'll petition to leave the show after today. Am I right?"

You give him a sad glare. "You left out the song going horribly wrong and I cause the downfall of four careers that haven't even started yet."

Ash seems to consider that idea. "Does your brain just automatically conjure up these scenarios or do you have to actively work at it?"

You scowl at him. "I'm serious!"

"Well, so am I!" he defends. "It'll be fine. Of all the possibilities running through your head, the most likely one is that they'll all get along, and the only thing they'll fight about is which one of them will get the seat next to you."

You let out a laugh, trying to ignore how his occupying the seat on your other side sounded like a given.

-----

"Do you think he realizes you're madly in love?"

"Man, I hope not."

-----

For your first team meeting, you and Ash agreed on taking the contestants out shopping. A lot could be said about someone's rap style from their fashion choices.

Del opted into a laid-back, casual look.

Hyejin went for bold and bright.

Caylo's outfit was trendy and unique.

Gunho dressed very minimalist without accessories.

It really seemed you worried for nothing; everyone was getting along just fine and seemed to be enjoying themselves.

You and Hyejin had somehow found a moment away from all the boys and the camera crew.

"Okay, I've been dying to ask you this all day," Hyejin whispers. "What's going on with you and Ash? Are you guys actually dating?"

You let out a small laugh. "What? Does it look like we're dating- actually, don't answer that. No, we are not. Ash is very sweet, but he's not into me."

"How about you then?" she probes. "Are you interested in him?"

"I..." you give your answer some thought. "...hold him in high regard," you say with some finality.

"But-"

A shout from down the aisle cuts your conversation short. "Where are you guys?"

This interaction would just have to be filed away for over-analyzation by you and Rohan later.

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Round 5: Song Mission

The hit-making song mission begins anew! Every team of four will perform their song to a voting crowd of 25 professional hip hop artists and 75 fans.

The two teams with the least amount of votes will each have to eliminate one member, who will also not feature on the official release of the song.

Which team are you looking forward to seeing?

Celebrity Panelist, Crush: I'm actually a fan of Saf, so I'm excited to see what she and Ash Island have come up with together.

In his interview, Crush said he's Saf's fan and wants to hear your guys' song.

Saf: Did he really? (looks over at Ash with her mouth covered)

Ash: We can go meet him later if you want.

Saf: Are you serious right now?

Ash: It's like you've never met a celebrity before.

Saf: What do you mean? I met you.

-----

During rehearsals, everyone puts their all into making this stage worth it. This could be the last day on the show for any one of them.

You watch and give critiques to your team wherever you can as a viewer, but your limited stage experience can only go so far.

Saf: This was the most thankful I've been to have Ash in this as my partner.

Ash: Really? After the infinite number of fail buttons I pressed in the second round? This is where you show your appreciation?

Saf: (ignoring Ash) He's performed on so many stages, large and small, since his debut. And he was on a survival show, too, just like our team members. He even messed up his lyrics on the show-

Ash: You did not need to mention that-

Saf: Anyway, it's nice to have someone that can relate to how they're feeling. Someone that knows all the different emotions they'll go through on that stage and that is able to help them navigate through it. And there isn't anyone else better than Ash for that job.

Ash: Of course there isn't. I'm the complete package.

-----

With every competition, there are always winners and losers. Unfortunately this time around, Saf and Ash's team end up as the losers.

Coming in fourth with the lowest number of votes, they must choose a member to eliminate.

Under whispered promises to him of a future remix of the song with him in it, the two young producers say goodbye to Del. Contrary to his usually laidback personality, he had been very nervous for today, and it showed in his performance.

Ash: It really is hard to let go of teammates. We spent all that time together, rehearsing, building synergy, getting to know each other. Just to have to part. But this isn't the end. I of all people know that there is life after the show ends. We'll see each other again.

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The conclusion of the Song Mission means the start of the next round of competition: the infamous Diss Battles!